Can Animals Predict Earthquakes?

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0:17:50 > 0:17:57.

0:18:04 > 0:18:05Welcome to Science Fiction,

0:18:05 > 0:18:08the show which shakes up our preconceptions about science...

0:18:08 > 0:18:11With startling precision.

0:18:11 > 0:18:13Well, BUD E, what's it going to be today then?

0:18:13 > 0:18:16Watch your head there, love, it's lethal in here, so it is.

0:18:16 > 0:18:19Today's question comes from Nelly in New Delhi.

0:18:19 > 0:18:21Can animals predict earthquakes?

0:18:21 > 0:18:23The Earth is made up of three distinct layers.

0:18:23 > 0:18:25Chocolate, caramel and peanut butter.

0:18:25 > 0:18:27The core, mantle and crust.

0:18:27 > 0:18:30Oh, that's it, I knew it had something to do with food.

0:18:30 > 0:18:34Now, the crust is broken up into sections called tectonic plates

0:18:34 > 0:18:37and where these plates meet, fault lines occur.

0:18:37 > 0:18:38Ah, sure, we all have our faults.

0:18:38 > 0:18:41And it's along these fault lines that earthquakes sometimes happen.

0:18:41 > 0:18:44But, luckily for us, Nelly, animals have a built-in

0:18:44 > 0:18:48earthquake sensor that they can use to warn us of any danger. BARKING

0:18:48 > 0:18:49SNORING

0:18:51 > 0:18:55What nonsense, Professor! Animals DON'T have earthquake sensors.

0:18:55 > 0:18:59But why is it they always go mad before an earthquake, so?

0:18:59 > 0:19:01Well, while it's true that animals experience

0:19:01 > 0:19:03the world in a different way to us,

0:19:03 > 0:19:05there simply isn't enough scientific evidence

0:19:05 > 0:19:08to suggest they know when an earthquake is coming.

0:19:08 > 0:19:11It's possible us humans are just seeing patterns in the world

0:19:11 > 0:19:12that aren't there.

0:19:12 > 0:19:16Sure, that's just a load of old... Which is it so though, Dr Knowles?

0:19:16 > 0:19:21- It's inconclusive, Professor.- Huh? - Sometimes that happens in science.

0:19:21 > 0:19:25But, like, now I don't get to say the catchphrase. That's my job.

0:19:25 > 0:19:29COMPUTER VOICE: Science fiction.

0:19:29 > 0:19:31Like, that's how it's supposed to work.

0:19:31 > 0:19:33You do the science bit and then I do the line.

0:19:33 > 0:19:35I go, "That's a load of science fiction."

0:19:35 > 0:19:37I've nothing to say now, nothing.

0:19:37 > 0:19:39Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd